The changes included in the proposed rule will: expand the applicability of NOAD and AIS requirements to more commercial vessels; modify NOAD reporting requirements; establish a mandatory method for electronic data submission; and establish a separate requirement for certain vessels to submit notices of departure. Under this proposed rulemaking, the applicability of AIS requirements would be extended beyond Vessel Traffic Service areas to all U.S. navigable waters.
These proposed changes will enhance existing NOAD regulations that currently provide the Coast Guard with vessel, passenger, crew and cargo information about ships coming to U.S. ports up to 96 hours before the vessel arrives. It will also improve existing AIS regulations that provide automatically broadcast dynamic, static and voyage-related vessel information such as position, course and speed that can be received by the Coast Guard and others with AIS-equipped stations.
The Coast Guard encourages the public to participate in this rulemaking by submitting comments and related materials to the docket at http://www.regulations.gov, docket number: USCG-2005-21869. All comments received will be posted without change.
